Pipe scraping device



United States Patent:

2,696,627 Patented Dec. 14, 1954 hfiee PIPE SCRAPING DEVICE John M. Lewis, Richmond, Calif.

Appiication June 12, 1951, Serial No. 231,117

3 Claims. (Cl. 15104.04)

This invention relates to a device for removing coatings or deposits, such as scale, corrosion products, paints or the like from the exterior surfaces of cylindrical objects. One particular purpose of the invention is to provide a mechanism for removing rust incrustations from affected metal parts aboard a ship, such as the railings, to reduce the amount of manual labor which frequently is employed in cleaning such articles. In accordance with the concept of this invention, a mechanism to accomplish this purpose comprises a device which can be placed adjacent to the surface to be cleaned and which will be provided with scraping or cutting edges to pass over the surface and remove extraneous materials therefrom. The scraping edges are biased toward and pressed against the surface with a substantially constant pressure under the action of a spring or other suitable means. The biasing means also will act to resiliently support at least some of the scraping edges to permit movement thereof toward and away from the surface while the cleaning operation is in progress, to thereby accommodate slight changes in diameter of the peripheral surface and to permit the mechanism to pass over protuberances such as circumferential welds joining adjacent sections of railing, collars, and the like. When the device is assembled in operative relationship to the surface being cleaned, the surface will be contacted at spaced points throughout a peripheral section thereof by scraping edges. Provision is made for displacing some of the scraping edges apart relative to the others so that the device may be assembled over and removed from the object being treated. The mechanism is shaped to provide a handle to manipulate the device and cause the scraping edges to be traversed over the surface to be cleaned, both in circumferential and in axial directions.

To assist in the disclosure of this invention, one specific embodiment thereof will be illustrated and described.

However, it will be obvious that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents an elevational view of one embodiment of the invention showing the device with the scraping element open in a position to receive an elongated cylindrical article.

Fig. 2 represents in part an elevational sectional view of the device and illustrates the position of the scraping element when closed around the cylindrical article.

Fig. 3 represents partly in section a plan view of the device in the position with the scraping element closed and the left half of the scraping element omitted.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the device comprises a frame of a generally U-shaped configuration having leg portions 11 and 12 connected together at one end by a closure portion 13. A unitary cylindrical projection 14 extends outwardly from leg 11 in a direction substantially parallel to the closed portion of the frame. Formed centrally through the projection and continuing transversely through leg 11 is a bore 15 which provides a passage extending from within theenclosed portion of the U-shaped frame to the free end of projection 14. Slidably mounted within the bore is a rod 16 which is of sufiicient length to extend entirely through the bore and project from each end thereof. An enlargement 17 is formed or secured on rod 16 in a position displaced inwardly from the outer end 18 of the rod. A helical spring 19 is placed around the end portion 20 of the rod between the enlargement 17 and the outer end 18. The spring is adapted to abut the enlargement and to be movable resiliently longitudinally of the rod. The bore 15 may have a portion of greater internal diameter adjacent to the enlargement 17 to permit the enlargement and the abutting portion of the spring to move part way into the bore. The reminder of the bore forms a bearing and guide for the rod.

A sleeve 21 circumferentially surrounds the projection 14 and the end portion 20 of rod 16 extending therefrom together with the spring 19 assembled thereon. At its outer end the sleeve is substantially closed by a wall 22 through which is formed an opening 23 to slidably accommodate the end 26 of the rod. The interior diameter of the sleeve is sufficienbto permit it to be slidably and rotatably mounted on the projection 14. When the sleeve is assembled on the device the spring 19 is located between the inner side of the wall 22 and the enlargement 17, and the end 18 of the rod 16 projects outwardly through the opening 23. The outer terminus of the rod has afiixed thereto an element 24 of greater diameter than the opening 23 against which the end wall of the sleeve will abut as the sleeve is moved outwardly from the U frame. This element may conveniently be a nut screwed on appropriate screw threads formed in the end of the rod.

The open end portion 25 of the sleeve 21, that is the end portion which lies adjacent to the frame 10 when the sleeve is assembled on the device, has formed in it two generally helical slots 26 which will engage with lugs 27, formed on or affixed to the projection 14, to form a bayonet connection. The relationship of the lugs and slots is such that as the bayonet connection is engaged and tightened the sleeve 21 will be drawn toward the frame 10.

The scraping or cutting element of the device is represented by the numeral 28. This element has a hollow interior 29 adapted to receive a cylindrical body, represented by the numeral 30, Fig. 2, which will extend transversely therethrough. serrations 31 are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the hollow scraping element to produce radially inwardly directed cutting or scraping edges 32. The scraping element may conveniently be formed in two similar half sections 33 and 34. These sections are arranged to be displaced relatively apart from each other to enable an elongated cylindrical object to be placed between the halves, which then may be moved together to substantially enclose a circumferential section of the object, with the scraping edges resting on the surface thereof. Scraping elements having different interior diameters may be provided to accommodate different sizes of cylinders. Obviously the scraping element will be made of a material which will permit a durable scraping edge to be formed thereon or affixed thereto.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, each half of the scraping element has a slot 35 formed in its outer peripheral portion, substantially parallel to the tangent to the curve of its periphery and extending through and transversely to the plane of bisection. The slots are made to slidably engage a rib 36 raised from the inner surface of the connecting portion 13 of the U frame 10 and together the slots and rib form a keyway means. The slots and rib interact to position the half portions of the cutting element in the device and to aid in keeping them aligned in the same plane when the device is in operation. Each half portion 33 and 34 has a similar screw threaded opening 37 and 38 respectively formed in its outer peripheral surface in a similar position midway of its circumferential length and normal to the plane of bisection. The openings 37 and 38 will be in diametrically opposed positions when the halfs are assembled together. The positions of the slot and the openings are such that the half portion of the scraping element can be interchanged in position on the frame without affecting the operation of the device.

For purposes of illustration, the half portion 34 is shown as detachably assembled to the end of rod 16 by screw threads formed on the inner end of the rod and engaging those in the opening 38. The half portion 33 is shown as afl'lxed rigidly to the frame 10 by means of a bolt 39 which passes freely through an opening 40 in the leg 12 of the U frame, and which engages the screw threads in the opening 37.

By this construction and arrangement of parts, it is apparent that the half portion 33 is assembled to remain stationary relative to the frame However, the half" portion 34 may be made to slide along the frame and be displaced relative to the halfportion 33 by manipulating the sleeve 21 to disengage its bayonet: connection and thence sliding the sleeve along the projection 14; During; its travel, the end wall 22 of the sleeveengages the nut'24 onthe end of rod-I6, thus causing therodto' slide-out wardly through the bore 15'in a direction away from the- U frame. The half portion 34 ofthe scraping-elementwill move-with the rod and be laterally displaced from the half portion 33. In this manner, the'scrapingelement isopened to permit it to be placed circumferentially overa cylindrical object such as a pipe or tube or the like.

After this condition has been achieved, the sleeve is moved along the projection 14- in a direction toward the U frame. During its travel, the inner-surface of-end' wall 22' will contact one end of spring-1 9 andjpusliit into abutment with the enlargement'li'. Further movement of the sleeve in the inwardly direction will be transferredthrough the spring to the rod causingthe rod to slide inwardly carrying the half portion 34 of the scraper element toward the half portion 33. The" half portions of the scraper element approach each other until'the scraping edges 32 are resting on the surface of- 'the cylind'rical object enclosed between the halves. It isdesirable to choose a scraping element-of a proper internal diameter such that when the halves 33 and 34 of the element approach each other closely, substantially allof the scraping edges will be in operative contact with the surface to be scraped.

, If the sleeve 21- is now moved further -in-an' inwardly: direction, the spring 19 will be compressed between the: end wall 22 and the enlargement on rod 16, and the spring;

action will be transmitted through the rod torthe half? 3 portion 34 of the scraping element. Thesleeve'ismoved' against the compression ofthe. spring until the bayonet connection can be engaged to' lock'the sleevein place When this position has been-attained; the half portion 34' of the scraping element will'be biased-constantly toward the'half portion 33 by the spring action, but will be resiliently movable away from the'half portion 33".to a limited extent as determined by the dimensions of the spring.

, Theouter surfaceof the sleeve may be'knurled or otherwise treated as indicated by numeral 41, to provide, a, surface which may be grasped without'slippage.

in operation, the device is assembled, around the ob.- ject. to be scraped, asexplained above, with the scraping: edges pressed against its surface. Usingthe. sleeve. portion as a handle, the device is then partially rotated transversely to the object so that the scrapingedges move over. the surface in a manner to dig into. and remove. any. coatings or incrustations adhering thereto. The. flex-i: bility permitted the half portionfi i' by, the biasing spring. l9-will enable the half. portions of'thescraping element to be displaced apart relative to each other to-permitt passage of the device over. minor. obstructions without; releasing the cutting element from-its operative position Furthermore, the constant biasing of, the-scraping edges against the surface. being cleaned .will cause the, edgessau-- tornaticallyto follow deviations incircumferential dimen-- sions of the surface, thereby. assuring that all. portions-of it will be'scraped. By causing thedevice .to travelin a series of somewhat helical movements a continuouslongitudinal, cylindrical surface may be cleaned without releas ingv the scraping edges from their operative position or resetting the device on the surface.

When the cleaning operation of a section of a ships-rail. or other such object has been completed',the device may be removed from the object merelyby partially turning the sleeve 21 to release the bayonet connection and.re-- tracting the sleeve outwardly to cause the half portion of the scraping element to be displaced apart; Conversely,

the device may be assembled in;operative.positiomuponsuch an object by the simple arrangementiof.positioning: the half portions of the scraping element onzdiametrically opposite sides of the objectand manipulating the sleeve 21 to forceit inwardly toward the: body portion of the device until the bayonet. connectionisengaged.

It will be obvious that modifications carrbe made in the particular structure illustrated and described herein without departing from the inventive" concept disclosed; and that the invention is not limited to the exact structure of the exemplary embodiment set forth.

I claim:

1. A scraping device comprising, a substantially U-shaped frame, a projection extending from one leg of said U-shaped frame, a boreextending through said projection and said one .leg, arod slidably mounted in said bore and extending to a point between the legs of said U-shaped frame, a first vscraping element attached to said rod, a second scraping element attached to the other leg of said'iushaped frame", asleeve slidably mounted on said projection for movement toward and away from said frame and operatively' connected to said rod, spring means interposed between said sleeve and said rod and forming a part of the operative connection between the sleeve and the rod, means to secure said sleeve to said projection When-said sleeve-is moved-"toward said frame; said spring means being positioned" tobias said first scrapingelement' toward said second scraping element when' said isleeve'is-g moved toward said frame.

2.. A pipe-scraping device.comprisinga-U-shapedframe;- handlemeans for-said U-sha-ped frame including a projection mounted on and ex-tendingfromone of thelegs off? said U shaped: frame, at least'.a pair-of complementary and similar-scraping elements havingaplurality ofteeth adapted to engagethe circumference-of a pipe, one of said" scraping elements beingfixed adjacent-the" leg; of. said U-shaped: frame remote from said". projection, A means for' slidablymounting. the other. of said scraping el'ements in" said U-shaped frame including lceyway meansextending betweerrthelegs'of said U.i-shaped frame, rodmeans. for moving the last named'scraping element fromia position; adjacent'the projection mounting legof said frame into engagement with the fixed scraping element,, said' rod means extending through a bore'. in said projection and said projection-mountingleg of said frame, anda handle member telescopically engaging said. projection and operatively connected to said. rod meansfor moving. said rod. means and the movable. scraping element. along .said key; way means of said frame.

3.. A pipe-scrapingdevice,forremovingpaint,rust, scale. and the like. comprisinga .U.-shaped frame havingatprm jection extending outwardly from one.legtliereof,..at.least. a pairv of complementary. andisimilar. scraping. elements. having a. plurality of. teeth adapted tOz engage and fit; closely, the circumference. ofla pipe, one-ofjsaid'scraping. elements. being fixed. adjacent. the other. leg. of said; U-shapedframe,.. keyway means,.for sl-itlabl'y. mounting; the :othenof. said} scrapiitgelements in .sa-idLU-shaped' frame including a rib extending, between: the. legs. of. said. Ushaped.frame,..rodmmeansffor moving said other scrapg-i ing element from. av position" adjacent". the: projecting. supporting leg of'said'frame into pipe-engaging relatione ship with said first-mentioned scrapingelemenn, said rod means... being. slidabl-y, supported; in? a bore. through said projectionv and the. adjacent leg. of.- said; frame, handle: meansfor said U;-shaped frame. including-ahandle rnem-- ber telescopically engaging said projectionaand;operatively connected to said rodrneans-fon moving said-rod means and r the movable. scraping element. along; said keyway means of said frame; loo-king: means between-1 said pro?- jection. and said handle. member. to, position-said movable scraping; element adjacent said ifixed scraping element and. in pipe-engaging. position andzspring:zmeansabetweent said; handle memberandisaid rodwrneans for biasingysaidfmow ablescrapingelement.- againsttsaid fixedscrapinggelements.

References Cited in:.the.file' of thisapatent:

UNITED" STATESv PATENTS Number" Name: Date:

1,593,542 Shoemaker" .Julyt20,1 192d 1,71-55289 Hellmanz=r .MayeZS, .1929- 2-,l.09-;857 Berkmant Man-.1, 193-8. 2,287,545; Wieck- June 23; 1942; 2,412,748? Phillips Dec; 1 7, 1 946 2,S.O8,2.9.li Perm. May'16, 1950 2;5.5:l,-875: Cotton May 8,1951" 

